Maravi

Both parents should be Zambians by birth or descent - ECZ

Both parents should be Zambians by birth or descent - ECZ
By Patson Chilemba
Thu 04 Aug. 2011, 14:00 CAT

THE Electoral Commission of Zambia yesterday told presidential aspirants in this year’s elections that both their parents should be Zambian citizens by birth or descent.

During the ECZ meeting with aspiring presidential candidates, commission secretary Eric Kamwi said the provisions of Article 34 of the Republican Constitution in terms of qualifications for one to be presidential candidate had not changed from the way it was in the 2006 and 2008 elections.

Kamwi said a person who seeks to stand as presidential candidate must be a Zambian citizen, confirmed by proof of a green National Registration Card (NRC).

“It is also the requirement that both parents of the person must be Zambians by birth,” said Kamwi as PF officials and cadres applauded, while President Banda tried hard to smile.

“This is confirmed in one of the forms which I will take you through, and this is the oath of affirmation. In short, a candidate in that form will be required to attest to this fact.”

Kamwi said the other requirements were that the presidential aspirant should be 35 years and above and should be sponsored by a political party, as well as being domiciled in the country for 20 years.

He said presidential aspirants should also fulfill the statutory declaration of assets.

Soon after Kamwi had spoken ECZ spokesperson Chris Akufuna took the floor, but PF leader Michael Sata demanded that he should be allowed the opportunity to seek answers on some matters.

But Akufuna said the programme would proceed and allow the queries later.

But Sata said if allowed later, the issues he wanted to raise would come as an afterthought and useless.

When he was allowed to go ahead with the query, Sata said he had every confidence in ECZ chairperson Justice Irene Mambilima to conduct free and fair elections.

He said justice Mambilima had worked hard to try and bring decency to the elections, saying while others were trying to observe the Electoral Code of Conduct, the MMD was using the state-owned and government-controlled Zambia Daily Mail to print newspapers by “Chanda Chimbwi” and The Zambian by Ngande Mwanajiti.

Sata then presented the two newspapers to justice Mambilima.

“Thank you very much. I trust you and halfway Chulu, when he was judge in charge. I don’t know by now,” said Sata.

Later the commission requested journalists to leave the conference room to allow for a private discussion.

After the closed door meeting, Sata said he told the meeting that it was easy to prosecute other presidential aspirants if they committed malpractices but President Banda was immune to any prosecution.

When President Banda was being escorted out of the hall after the closed door meeting, he was heard saying: “Mwaliba amashilu muno mucalo.”

Earlier, justice Mambilima said the purpose of the meeting was to inform aspiring candidates on the requirements for lodging of nomination papers and to remind them on the expectations of the commission as they embark on their campaigns.

She said the country was now in the campaign period, meaning that the provisions of the Electoral Code of Conduct were now in effect.

She urged the presidential aspirants and their supporters to adhere to the code and ensure that this campaign period was peaceful.

Justice Mambilima said in its quest to ensure that the code was upheld, the commission had begun meeting various media houses to remind them of their responsibilities to provide balanced and fair coverage.

She said ECZ would like to see a change in the way political parties conducted their campaigns, from dwelling on personalities to concentrate on issues affecting the people whose vote they were targeting.

Justice Mambilima said the 2011 register of voters had been certified, saying 5,167,154 registered voters were captured.

“As I conclude my remarks, I would like to confirm that the commission will proceed to prepare for the printing of ballot papers in Durban, South Africa,” said justice Mambilima.

She said participating political parties would be requested to nominate a representative from their party to travel to Durban to witness the whole process from beginning to the end at the cost of the commission.

Justice Mambilima said in every race there was only one winner, saying she therefore challenged the aspirants to be bold and respect the decision of the people when the winner for the elections was declared.

ECZ director Priscilla Isaac said the nominations would take place from August 7 to 10, 2011 and the validity of aspirants would be confirmed that very day they will file in the nominations.

The presidential aspirants who attended the meeting included President Banda, Sata, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, Heritage Party leader Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda, FDD president Edith Nawakwi, UNIP president Tilyenji Kaunda, Cozmo Mumba, Humphrey Siulapwa and National Movement for Progress leader Ng’andu Magande.

Labels: CONSTITUTION, ECZ, PRESIDENCY

posted by MrK @ 4:44 PM